guten Tag Herr
The English phrase 'hello mr.' is expressed in German as guten Tag Herr.
This phrase is used as a formal greeting when addressing a man. The word Herr is the formal German equivalent of 'Mr.' and is used before a person's last name.
Which one should you use?
While Hallo is a direct translation of 'hello', Guten Tag is the standard formal way to say 'hello' in a professional or respectful context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Guten Tag Herr… is a formal greeting used in professional settings or when speaking with strangers.
How does it change in a sentence?
To be grammatically complete in a formal greeting, the word Herr must be followed by a surname.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use Herr as a standalone title like 'Mr.' is used in English. You must include the person's last name.
Did you know?
- The title Herr is linguistically related to the English word 'hoar', used in 'hoar frost' to describe white or grey-haired things.
- While guten Tag is a greeting, the root Tag is also used in the names of German parliaments, such as the Bundestag or Landtag.
- In very formal or old-fashioned settings, you might hear the greeting Guten Tag, mein Herr, which adds 'my' to the title.
Examples in context
- Herr Müller, guten Tag!Mr. Müller, hello!
- Herr Schmidt, Grüß Gott!Mr. Schmidt, greetings!
- Herr Wagner, herzlich willkommen!Mr. Wagner, warm welcome!
- Grüß Gott, Herr Schmidt!Greetings, Mr. Schmidt!
Example conversation
Hannah greets her neighbor in the hallway.
- HannahGuten Tag Herr Lukas!Hello Mr. Lukas!
- LukasGuten Tag, Hannah.Hello, Hannah.
- HannahGehen Sie heute spazieren?Are you going for a walk today?
- LukasJa, das mache ich.Yes, I am.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Herr, Tag, CC BY-SA 4.0.
